Dilemmas of the Week - GW8

 

Every week, we need to take a long hard look at our squad, and ask ourselves if we want to make any changes....

If we do see a pressing case for a change here or there, we then need to weigh that against the possible advantage of saving our transfer - 'rolling' it over to use in a future week. This option achieves greater tactical complexity this season with the new rule that allows us to save up as many as 5 Free Transfers to use at one time. If we ever manage to do that, it would in effect be a 'mini Wildcard', enabling us to conduct a major squad overhaul in one fell swoop (particularly useful as there are a handful of 'premium' players who cost so much more than everyone else that you can't conveniently move them in and out of your squad without making multiple other changes as well).

Then, of course, occasionally multiple changes may seem so inescapable that we have to consider whether it's worth spending points on 1 or 2 extra transfers (a tactic which obviously deserves a whole post of its own one day).

So, what are the conundrums we face ahead of Gameweek 8?

Does anybody need to be moved out because of injury?

The big ooh-aah this week, of course, is over Saka, who came off in the Greece game with a leg muscle problem; the latest gossip all seems to point to him indeed missing this weekend's clash at Bournemouth. However, he's not the kind of player you can swap in and out for a short-term problem: you really ought to have back-up on the bench you can turn to for a week or two. Havertz also picked up a problem with his knee while training with Germany: also being played down as 'not serious' so far, but also looking quite likely to rule him out of the next match. I can't imagine why anyone has Havertz in their squad, but apparently over 20% do. I would say the effect of these likely withdrawals is not so much for their immediate impact on Fantasy teams (though it will hit hard for those who've been trying to get by with no bench, or only a very minimal one), but in its knock-on effects on other Arsenal assets. Arteta's perilously thin squad is now badly stretched, and without their two most potent attacking players of the season so far, they are likely to struggle to get results. White also looks to be crocked for a while, but that had been slowly becoming apparent over the last few weeks already. At least it looks as though Timber is going to be eligible for selection again. And Calafiori is relishing his chance to get a run in the side at last.

Munoz had an injury worry in the last game against Liverpool, but Glasner seems to think he should be OK by Monday. Ditto, Adam Wharton, who had some trouble with tightness in the groin while away with the England Under-21s.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Tyler Dibling picked up knocks just before the international break, but their managers seem hopeful they'll be recovered for this weekend.

The only other problems emerging during international duty were with Ugarte, Garnacho, Andersen, and Tuanzebe (apparently a 'freak accident' at home??); none of whom are very much owned at this point. (Oh, and Hwang Hee-Chan of Wolves too; although he hasn't done much so far this season, so is unlikely to be missed by anyone.)  However, the cumulative impact on Manchester United, whose injury list was already getting very long, could be pretty devastating: it's looking very much as though they might have to play their next game with Casemiro and Eriksen in central midfield - which makes the prospect of another spanking very real. (And I don't imagine most of their players are stoked by the revelation that they haven't been able to replace Ten Hag.)

Chiesa seems to be suffering a succession of unspecified 'injury problems' which keep him out of contention at Liverpool - although, with the strength of their current line-up, it was difficult to see how he was ever going to get a start anyway. His indisposition is probably, in fact, welcome to most Fantasy managers, as it slightly eases the anxiety about Slot's weekly selection decisions. Though we are, of course, still left with the usual uncertainties about whether Diaz and Nunez will be considered fit to start after a long flight back from South America...  Cody Gakpo may again be favourite - for one week only - to get the start on the left flank. The more momentous concern at Anfield, though, is Alisson having apparently pulled a thigh muscle quite badly in the last EPL game against Palace. It's very difficult to predict how long an injury like that will take to mend: could be 3 weeks, could be 6 weeks - could be longer. And now his usual understudy Kelleher is said to be suffering with a virus, so we might be getting third-choice Jaros appearing between the sticks again this week.

Lots of vexation here for the FPL enthusiast; but no situations - apart from Alisson's indisposition - which should require remedial transfer action.

Do we have any players who are dropped, or not looking likely to get the starts we hoped for?

Cucurella and Fofana are both suspended for the next game, after reaching 5 yellow cards already (thank Anthony Taylor for booking virtually the entirety of both teams in that ridiculous match against Bournemouth a few weeks back....).

Emile Smith Rowe was unexpectedly 'rested' for Fulham's game against City (and I haven't seen Marco Silva give any reason for it), so that could be a bit of a worry for his owners. (And indeed, he has shed around 220,000 owners since then, which must put him close to a price-drop.)  It's probably more the rival claims of Dwight McNeil that are drawing people away from him than dissatisfaction with his own potential, but even so... this situation is becoming a worry (yes, for me).

Did anyone give other cause to consider dropping them?

Oh god - Muric, again! But so long as he doesn't have a 'mare like that more than once in every 4 or 5 games, I imagine Kieran McKenna will keep faith with him. And perhaps we should too; Ipswich still have a pretty attractive run of fixtures through till Christmas.

Did anyone play so well, you have to consider bringing them in immediately?

No new eye-catchers in GW7, I would say - except perhaps Facundo Buonanotte, who made people sit up and take notice with an early frontrunner for 'Goal of the Month'. Well, of course, Mateo Kovacic is now attracting a lot of interest after his brace against Fulham (nearly 200,000 have bought him in the last fortnight, pushing his ownership up to 3.6%); now, he is probably a nailed starter in Rodri's absence, and he is much more of a regular goal-threat than the Spaniard - but he's not going to be chipping in a brace every week (probably won't manage it again all season...). He is, nevertheless, now threatening McNeil, Smith Rowe, and Semenyo as the best budget pick for the fifth seat; one just needs to be a bit more realistic about his likely goal tally! Bowen, and perhaps Kudus, should probably be coming on to people's radar too, as West Ham are gradually improving. And Delap, Dibling, and Ndiaye reinforced their claims for attention. (But the recently popular Dwight McNeil disappointed his new owners slightly.,,)

Chris Wood and Danny Welbeck continue to bang in the goals too; they're currently performing so well, you have to consider them as amongst the best forward picks, period, not just as appealing budget options. I remain a bit wary about them because of their woeful injury histories; I can't recall the last time either of them kept a streak going this long. I wish them well for their good form to continue; but it starts to feel less and less likely that it can for much longer.

BEST OF LUCK, EVERYONE!